Kaleidoscopic toy



N. ZIMMERMAN KALBIDOSGOPIC 10Y Nov. 4, I947.

Fild Dec. 8, 1945 Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KALEIDOSCOPIC TOY Naoma Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,590

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates in general t a childs toy and, more in particular, to a closed box structure functioning as a kaleidoscope, and also having the characteristics of a childs rattle.

The principal object of my. invention is the provision of a novel childs toy.

Another object is the provision of a kaleidoscope of simple, but effective, design suitable for handling by small children.

Still another object is the provision of a kaleidoscope in the form of an enclosed box with at least two contiguous refiecting side surfaces, means for supporting said box in 3 position to view such surfaces, and at least one brightly colored object within the box.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing Wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete toy;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

.Referring now to the dravving, the toy of my invention comprises a closed box 10 having sides,

top and bottom, the top and at least one side being transparent and at least tWo sides set at an angle between about sixty degrees and about ninety degrees and having interior refiecting sur faces. A plurality cf brightly colored objects is disposed in the box to form a kaleidoscopic image in the refiecting surfaces and a handle provides means for supporting the box in a position to view the kaleidoscopic images, as well as for shaking the box and producing a change in pattern. The child may also employ the toy as a rattle by grasping the handle and shaking it in the manner of a rattle, thereby imparting further interest therein t0 smaller children. The attractiveness of the rattle is enhanced by a rapidly changing kaleidoscopic pattern. The interior portion of the box is smooth so that the objects therein will readily move across surfaces of the box to produce a gradually changing pattern when movement of the box is slow. Preferably, also means is provided for the introduction and removal of objects; and, preferably, also, the objects are three dimensional so that the pattern may be more varied than if fiat objects were employed.

The closed box comprises a bottom Il, sides [2 and [3, a side 14 and a top l6. A handle Il has its end secured in the bottom l I and projects downwardly so that it may be grasped in the hand to permit holding the box at arms length.

The top 16 and side M are transparent, being formed preferably of clear plastic, and the interior surfaces of the sides 52 and l3 are light refiecting. Conveniently, these sides may be formed of plastic and are either molded with the bottom .or suitably secured thereto. Separate strips l8 and l9 may be secured to the inner surface of the sides l2 and l3 to form the refiecting surfaces. The strips l8 and 19 may comprise conventional silvered glass mirrors, or they may comprise highly refiecting strip metals with sufficient mirror quality te suit the purpose. It is desirable that these strips be light in weight, in keeping with the objects and functions of the device of Which they form a part. I have deter mined that the strips I8 and l9 may be secured to the inner surfaces of the sides I2 and i3 of Which they form a part by the use of suitable adhesives.

An inexpensive, light, and desirable way to construct the side 14 and top [5 is to form them together from a single piece of plastic, articulate them along their dividing line and introduce the composite part comprising the top and side l4 into position and secure it in position by means of adhesives or in other suitable ways.

Within the kaleidoscope box If), I provide a number of objects 2l, 22, and 23. These may properly comprise brightly colored bits of plastic having three dimensional shapes such as conical, semi-conical, pyramidal, half-spherical and the like. The surface of the base on which they rest is preferably also colored to contrast with the co-lors employed in the three dimensional objects. The surface is also made smooth so that the objecte will move around freely on it and the multiple refiections comprising the kaleidoscopic images may be made to change as the child holds the toy in its hand. The objccts will not only change their positions relative to each other and the box but also will move on their own axes to change their absolute positions. Shaking movement will cause a rattling noise which is attractive to smaller children and the rattling is accompanied with changing of the refiected images.

While the box of my invention is suitably formed entirely closed with no means for introducing or removing the objects therein after it has been assembled, I find soma advantage at times in changing the number or character of the objects therein and for this purpose provide near one corner of the box, in the base thereof,a sliding trap door or panel 24. The opening formed by sliding the panel 24 is sufiicient to permit removai and insertion of desired objects, and being near the corner the objects are readily removed by dropping this particular corner and allowing the objects to slide by gravity to the provided opening.

Preferably, the box of my invention comprises three sides of equai length and each two sides subtend an angle of sixty degrees. In any event, the angle between the two refiecting or mirrored surfaces is approximateiy of the order of sixty egrees but should not be greater than approxi. mateiy ninety degrees. to advantage, be three in number, as shown, in which case there is one clear or transparent side and two sides with reflecting inner surfaces. In

any case, there must be at least one transparent side and at least tWo contiguous sides With refiecting surfaces forming an angle between approximately sixty degrees and ninety degrees.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A kaleidoscope comprising a c1osed box having top, bottom and sides, a handle projecting downwardiy from the bottom, said top and at least one side being transparent, and at least two contiguous sides having inner refiecting surfaces, said surfaces subtending an angle of betweeu about sixty degrees and about ninety degrees, at least one brightly colored, solid objsct disposed in the box and adapted to form apattern, by multiple reflection in said surfaces, said pattern being viewabie through a transparent side, and a siiding panel c1osing a relativeiy smali aperture in the said bottom in such a manner as to leave a smooth bottom surface in the box.

2. A kaieidoscope comprising a ciosed box having bottom, top and three sides of equal length, said top and one side being formed of transparent plastic, said remaining two sides and bottom being formed of reiatively 1ight weight opaque material, and said opaque side having strips of mirror material on their inner surfaces extending from the bottom substantially to the top, a handle projecting downwardly from said bottom, and a plurality of brightiy colored plastic or like The number of sides can,,

objects in the box, said box having a kaleidoscopic function when held away from the eyes and viewed through the transparent side, and functioning as a childs rattle When shaken, inside surfaces of the box being smooth so that changing pattern effects may be obtained by causing the objects to assume gradualiy changing positions in the box.

Akaieidoscope comprising a ciosed box havingbottom, top and three sides ofequal length, said top and one side being formed of transparent plastic, said remaining two sides and bottom being formed of relatively light weight opaque material, and said opaque side having strips of mirror material on their inner surfaces extencL ing from the bottom substantially to the top, a handie -projecting downwardiy from said bottom, and a=plurality of brightly colored plastic or 1ike objects in the box, said box having a ka1eidoscopic function when neid away from the eyes and viewed through the transparent side, and functioning as a childs rattle when shaken, inside surfaces et the box being smooth so that changing pattern effects may be obtained by causing the objects to assume gradually changing positions in the box, said bottom having a reiativeiy small aperture near one corner thereof, and a panel slidable in the bottom to close said aperture and leave a smooth bottom surface, said objects being readily removed or inserted through said aperture.

NAOMA ZIMMERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The.following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 159,882 Adams Nov. 16, 1875 630,652 Buck Aug. 8, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 113,043 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1918 

